Jai sat beside me as the meal began. The dining table was, in fact, big and rectangular. Although there were still few seats empty, the table was almost full. I didn't see Maya though.

Ved was sitting diagonally on the opposite side of me. Beside him a girl with glasses was sitting right in front of me. She smiled at me once which I returned before filling my plate.

Most of them I didn't know so I just started eating while stealing glances at everyone every now and then. They mostly kept silent while eating, except for those few times when they needed to ask to pass the food.

It was almost halfway through when the girl introduced herself to me in a low voice, "I am Dr. Ashifa. I hope you're comfortable enough."

I smiled back, "Yeah absolutely. I am Urvi."

"If you need anything, you can ask me. I am always available in the laboratory of the pack house."

"Oh!" I caught a quick glance of Ved and saw his jaws ticked while he was tearing apart a piece of Roti. "Sure. Thanks."

"So, where are you from?"

"Kolkata."

She paused eating, "Kolkata? I didn't know we still have few of us in the south."

I didn't know what she meant by that, so I just stared at her, confused. Which was when Ved cleared his throat and turned, throwing her a meaningful look, "Doctor, you can communicate to her later."

"Oh! Yes, of course." Dr. Ashifa seemed to hold back something and gave me a half smile before continuing eating. Ved, as well, went back to eating.

I glanced between Ved and her, puzzled, then fell silent awkwardly.

After the dinner Jai and Abhay accompanied me up to my room.

"Good night. Sleep tight," Abhay said with his signature smile while Jai did a two fingers salute. I chuckled at their friendly gestures before conveying a goodnight message and closing the door.

A deep sigh left me, as I turned and faced my new room. So, this was it. I got a job and a place to stay right after arriving here. Was I a part of a miracle? Or my good luck had decided to pay me a visit?

I scoffed at my own sarcasm, then discarded my stole and fell on my back on the bed.

~~~

A white-hot pain burned my chest as I struggled to lay straight. I was sweating furiously and feeling suffocated. My eyes shot open as it immediately flew towards the wall clock. It was ten past three. I clutched my chest then sat up, panting. Why was my chest burning so bad? I didn't eat any junk foods that would cause such a heartburn.

Few minutes later when the pain in my chest subsided a little, I got off of the bed and went to the corner table where the water bottles sat blissfully. The dull ache still was bothering me and I didn't have any darn clue about why I was having this sudden chest pain. Perhaps, I ate too much. It must have been because of acidity. My legs felt rubbery as I walked up to there then took the bottle and uncapped it.

As I was about to take a swig, I felt strange. Something wasn't right. I lowered the bottle then spun around. The bed, the wardrobe, my luggages under the bed, everything seemed normal except the window curtains. It was fluttering slightly. I took a step forward. The temperature strangely felt a degree colder.

I went to the window, then swept the curtains aside and looked out. The hilly terrain was mostly covered in forest areas. So as far as I could see, I only saw dark forest.

A shiver ran down my spine as I sensed someone was behind my back. I swiftly turned around and shrieked at the sight.

"Looking for me, baby girl?" He rasped out.

There he was. Standing in front of the closed door of my room, holding a knife. His face was in full view now and under the light and dark of my room his appearance looked horrific. Those inhumanly eyes, unruffled black hair, high cheekbones and that formidable cut across his right eyes to left cheek had given him an intense and grisly look. He stepped forward as I stepped back when the exclusive scent hit my nostrils again. Of burning metal and camphor.

He held up the knife at me causing me to yelp in excruciating pain which suddenly erupted in my chest.

I screamed, dropping the bottle in my hand as he strode towards me promptly. I moved away and hit the wall behind me. He smirked then leaped forward and grasped my neck. I caught his wrist with both of my hands, trying to dislodge his hold on me. He suddenly leaned forward and inhaled audibly, then whispered, "I was right. You are something else. What are you, baby girl?"

I, for some reason, still remained conscious, until an alarm went off somewhere and a second later the door of my room burst open.

Everything blacked out thereafter.

..

"Urvi! Urvi, open your eyes! Urvi!"

Someone was calling me. Their voice was faint and distant. I struggled to spot their exact location but it was dark. Too dark in fact, and... and I couldn't see. Wait... why couldn't I see anything? I panicked and struggled. It felt like my lungs were closing in and I couldn't breathe.

"Urvi?" I again heard the same voice, but it was nearer.

But I couldn't see anyone. Where was I? And all the memories came crashing down. I was attacked. He was throttling me to death. Did he succeed? Was I dead? Ohmygod! I screamed. But couldn't hear my voice.

Then I felt a sharp slap on my face. It stung so bad that my eyes shot open right at that instant.

It took me a moment to adjust my view to the brightness of the room and finally the blurriness retreated allowing me to have a clear look of the room.

I stared at the familiar ceiling, then my eyes dropped and located the crowd around my bed. I was lying on the bed of my allotted room. A chill ran down my spine as I reminded myself of the earlier events.

I was attacked by some creepy monster. Ohmygod!

I glanced around to encounter some worried faces. Most of them I have met. Except I saw two Mr. Rudras. Great! Now I was even hallucinating! I groaned inwardly and tried to sit up. But Dr. Ashifa and Triveni asked me not to. I saw Abhay and Trilok and two Mr. Rudras. One had red streaks in his hair, the other one had teal colored streaks.

Okay! I stared between them wide eyed, totally baffled. Both of them were standing side by side next to my bed, looking down at me with a critical look. When I was still busy ogling between them, the teal one insinuated, looking at the red one, "It's high time."

"I believe so." Triveni agreed, "Ved, she should know."

The teal Mr. Rudra exclaimed, puzzled, "What? She doesn't know?"

"Keep your mouth shut, Veer. She's conscious and can hear you perfectly clearly," The red Mr. Rudra rebuffed.

"What the hell Ved! If she doesn't know anything, it will risk her life even more!" Veer reasoned immediately.

My throat was dry. I gulped and realized; I needed some water. I dragged myself up without listening to the protests of Triveni and Dr. Ashifa and sat up somehow, "Can I get some Water?" I nearly croaked. I sounded awful.

Dr. Ashifa walked over to the corner table and grabbed the water bottle and a glass before coming back to my side. She poured some water into the glass before giving it to me.

Trilok spoke up, "Ved, I think you'll be the best person to reveal it to her. I suggest you talk to her without delaying."

I drank down the water in one go and Dr. Ashifa took the glass from me and put it aside. I was completely flabbergasted by whatever they were talking about. It was a no brainer that they knew something about me before I did. As the thought crossed my mind, I felt extremely uneasy. Did they know about Rakesh? But how could they know, I just arrived here. Not even had spent twenty four hours with these Rudras. How would they know that I was a murderer? Then also, if they really knew, would they fire me from the job? I barely worked for only a day. I dreaded the thought of them handing me over to the police. It would be my worst nightmare. I did not want that. I barely started here...

My chain of thought cut short when Ved consented, "I will talk to her. But now she needs rest. Tomorrow, I will see what else she could take." The last part of his words confused the hell out of me. What the hell did he mean by that. What was he planning to do? Would he be dumping more work pressure? Or was he referring to my worst nightmare?

I stared at him and noticed his frowning face before my eyes shifted to Veer. They were twins. They had to be. As far as my knowledge could go, only identical twins looked alike to such an extent. Observing them for a longer time, made me feel tingly and it was fucking strange and was messing with my brain cells.

Additionally, I didn't have a slightest bit of inkling of whatever the hell they were talking about. It was settling a sense of insecurity in my gut and I was scared to the core.

I mumbled unexpectedly, catching everyone's attention to me, "I- I think- I'm going to die! He- he can- he can reach me everywhere," I literally stuttered. Panic and fear is all I heard in my voice.

None of them respond immediately. The silence that followed my statement was gloomy and it made me feel cold and helpless. I eyed everyone present in the room and saw their concerned tight-lipped faces, before my eyes settled on Ved.

Our eyes locked for a moment before he blinked, averted his eyes and addressed his brother, "Veer, take care of the pack-house's security. I don't understand how our high alerted security could get breached by that piece of filth. Take Abhay and Deepam with you. And Uncle Trilok," he turned to the elderly man, "Could you please call the southern headquarters for more assistance? We might need it soon and Maa, make sure Alpha is safe."

Everyone nodded their consent on their assigned jobs.

"And I will stay here watching over Urvi," he finally stated. His voice although had a hint of emergency in it, but it was too calm to be true. At his statement, my stomach sank. If he was staying here with me to keep an eye on me, it could only mean one thing.

The situation was everything but inconsequential.

Everyone asked me to take a good rest before leaving the room, except the Rudra twins. Both of them strode to the farthest corner of the room and started discussing something in a terribly hushed voice and gave me all kinds of reasons about why I should not feel safe here. I was now literally considering to escape from here as well. Then also, I knew that creep was somewhere out in the wild waiting for me to make one single wrong move and if I did, I would be over.

A couple of minutes later, Veer walked over to me and smiled at me, "I am Veer. Although we didn't have a formal meeting, I assume, you've figured out my identity."

I just gave him a single awkward nod.

"I can't even say pleasure to meet you, even though that was what a civil meeting should start with," He tried to lighten up the mood, which I wasn't sure even working.

When I didn't respond he continued with a glance over at his brother, "I don't know how that bastard got into the pack house. But you don't have to worry about that. I'll find out soon and whoever is responsible for this dereliction of duty, he'll face the dire consequences."

His firm words made me breathless. He seemed strict just like his brother. Why oh why god? Why did you give me such a weird bunch of employers whose profiles were still vague to me?

I stared at him, completely benumbed until I realized I was gaping at him for quite a while. Ved came, stood beside him and eyed me with a thoughtful gaze, which was when I found my voice back. I blinked and glanced between both of them before my faint voice decided to come out, "Wh- who was he?"

They exchanged a meaningful glance with each other before Veer answered, "His name is Noraak and he is..." he shot me an unwavering intense gaze before saying, "a Blood Demon."